Joe,
I remember while back you or G..A. had a big post on the Mayor and Council authorizing the Salisbury Fire Department to 6 (SIX) paramedics and the have refused to. To this day the SFD is still down 6 (SIX) paramedics and See and Hoppes continue to hire basic EMT's. I have been told they just hired 1 paramedic from PG County and a basic EMT from the state of Delaware. WTF is wrong with that picture? There were at least 2 firefighter/paramedics that applied for the position and they only hired 1. This paramedic happended to be an attractive female from PG County, hmmmm. The other firefighter/paramedic was a local guy who already works at local fire departments and they hired a basic EMT over him. WTF! I have also been told that numerous volunteer firefighter EMT's from the Salisbury Fire Department were denied or passed over for the job for the basic EMT. Why are these people good enough to volunteer for the city, but they are not good enough to work for the city?
I believe one of the volunteers from Salisbury that got turned down was a firefighter/EMT-I which is an intermediate level paramedic who is a paid firefighter with the Anne Arundel County Fire Department. Why wasn't this guy hired.
Joe this is an issue that needs to be investigated by the city council. I remember Don Cathcarts letter to the area stating how great Comegys was to the city and the fire department.
The current paramedics are overworked and many are looking for careers elsewhere. When other departments start hiring paramedics again there is going to be a mass exodus and Salisbury will be left with NONE!!
Wake up Salisbury, when you dial 911 in the near future you may not get the paramedics you are paying taxes for.
It is time for SEE, GORDO and HOPPES to go!!!
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
31 comments:
Just because someone has a Paramedic card doesn't mean they are getting hired. Salisbury does extensive background checks and this weeds out most bad apples. They would rather select a good employee that could be trained to be a Paramedic than endure the crap of a bad Paramedic.
There is a nationwide shortage of Paramedic and even bigger shortage of GOOD ones. It serves no purpose to hire someone just because they are a Paramedic. If they are not good providers in the field and have issues in and out of the firehouse, then why waste the time. There are alot of poor ALS providers in the field today , because they have lowered the standards. Paramedics are rushed through school with little to no real field experience. Quite a few never quite catch on and eventually fade away. Unfortunately many remain poor providers and bounce around from town to town, because they are desperate for Medics.
The public needs to know that the person who responds for their call might be one of these people. I applaud Salisbury for having such rigid standards. The person complaining is probably not up to those standards.
The person who works for Anne Arundel is a friend of mine. Why would he leave there making better than 50,000 to start here at 40,000. He applied two years ago and has recently returned from Iraq. Lots of things have changed since he applied.
If the city paid what it should, it would get the qualified paramedics.
The city hires cop impersonators? That was an excellent job investigation. One things for sure Cee is retiring,the wwtp major is gone and the new ones will be put to the test.
Salisbury is not short on Paramedics. They have five Paramedics in the office guarding a desk.There are two additional Paramedics serving as Duty chiefs and never use their skils. They receive a $3,000 bonus every year for having Paramedic certification. This is a waste of resources and the public needs to know. They are in positions created by See's administration that didn't exist before. These are good seasoned Paramedics that could fill a huge void in services. The administration wont even think of putting them in the field. Guarding a desk is what they believe serves the public. The council should demand that these Medics be utilized correctly before authorizing one dime for a new Paramedic.
The sad truth is you will not get hired by Salisbury unless you are a card carrying member of the Good 'Ol Boys Club. That is why they can be short 6 paramedics and still tell you they aren't hiring when you inquire about employment.
The "local guy" is a fine paramedic. He already works for two local fire departments and is very much qualified. What a shame.
I hope everyone voting for Mayor will realize that we need better than the current mayor and anyone who she supports. This means Just Say No to Comegys.
Mardela,
You have got to be kidding me. A fine paramedic! Your standards are awefully low or your blind I guess. Your opinion is in the minority.
Anonymous said...
Salisbury is not short on Paramedics. They have five Paramedics in the office guarding a desk.There are two additional Paramedics serving as Duty chiefs and never use their skils. They receive a $3,000 bonus every year for having Paramedic certification. This is a waste of resources and the public needs to know. They are in positions created by See's administration that didn't exist before. These are good seasoned Paramedics that could fill a huge void in services. The administration wont even think of putting them in the field. Guarding a desk is what they believe serves the public. The council should demand that these Medics be utilized correctly before authorizing one dime for a new Paramedic.
9:36 AM
This is the most ignorant comment concerning the Salisbury Fire Department I have ever seen! Are you saying that paramedics shouldn't be promoted because they are paramedics. My guess it that you are just an EMT and your are mad because you have to ride the ambulance instead of the fire engine.
That bonus you refer to is not a "bonus." If I remember correctly the council granted an increase in pay to the paramedics, but the fire officers who held a paramedic certification didn't get the increase like the rest of the paramedics. They got a much smaller increase in their pay. I was told yesterday that new paramedics are making more money than the fire officers in Salisbury. Sounds like poor leadership to me.
MSP Medic Cop said...
Just because someone has a Paramedic card doesn't mean they are getting hired. Salisbury does extensive background checks and this weeds out most bad apples. They would rather select a good employee that could be trained to be a Paramedic than endure the crap of a bad Paramedic.
There is a nationwide shortage of Paramedic and even bigger shortage of GOOD ones. It serves no purpose to hire someone just because they are a Paramedic. Paramedics are rushed through school with little to no real field experience. Quite a few never quite catch on and eventually fade away.
9:07 AM
I agree with you on some of your comments. There are a lot of bad card holding Paramedics out there and many of them are Maryland State Police Trooper Medics. Just go to the airport and check out the ones they hire. Where do they get their experience from? They have no experience at all. They only fly on 300 or less medical missions and by the time the helicopter gets to the scene the patient is already packaged. A good example of poor MSP paramedics is the call they had with Alle Fire Department last year where they let that man from the moped accident die on the road after the helicopter and the MSP medic stayed on the ground for over an hour. Don't go tooting your horn if you can't back it up.
You say the Salisbury Fire Department does an extensive back ground check and weeds out the bad apples? What about the firefighter/EMT they hired who should have been a paramedic before he got hired? He was arrested for impersonating a police officer. What about that girl that is on sick leave without pay because she has mental issues? What about that paramedic who got arrested this past Monday evening for domestic violence and he is still on the pay roll? The same paramedic is doing remedial training as a ride along with another paramedic because he made some poor choices. He has been doing this for over a month. What do you you have to say about your great assessment of the Salisbury Fire Department and the MSP Medic Cops. Get a grip you moron.
Anonymous said...
Mardela,
You have got to be kidding me. A fine paramedic! Your standards are awefully low or your blind I guess. Your opinion is in the minority.
10:42 AM
If this guy is such a bad paramedic then why does the state license him? Why are you attacking this guy. If you have a problem with him then have the balls to sign your name.
I hope MSP Medic Cop isn't Ron Lewis. He is the worst paramedic I have ever seen in my life. He also is the most boring "instructor" that I have ever seen.
I think many of the commenters on here are missing the point. What you have there is a mayor and council that authorized the hiring of 6 more paramedics and Chief See and Deputy Chief Hoppes refuse to hire the paramedics they were told to hire. IMHO this appears to be insubordination and/or a deriction of their duties. The EMT's they are hiring are not what the city needs. The city like most other jurisdictions need paramedics. It is my understanding there are numerous paramedics seeking employment elsewhere. If the city doesn't start paying paramedics better they will never get paramedics. Ocean City has a potential to lose a number of paramedics within a year due to retirement. Salisbury Paramedics will be leaving Salisbury for Ocean City in droves. They have better pay and better leadership.
Paramedics should ride the ambulance period. Promotion was some of Brezlers crap that is still going on. They dont like riding the ambulance any more than the EMT's. They bitch and moan about every call. Most of the ones I know are terrible firemen and are scared of fire. Paramedics are overrated and arrogant people who only get the card for the paycheck. Do you want me to name a few of your paramedic firefighting gods ?
Your the first person I have ever heard that questioned the quality of the MSP Medics. Ron Lewis is a very good Paramedic and teaches at Wor Wic. Many of the MSP flight medics are volunteers at other departments and former military medics with battleground experience. If the MSP program is so bad, then why do so many of you apply to their ranks ? Many local Paramedics have done so within the past year. The MSP is a steller organization and you have to be good to get in. Keep that in mind when you apply.
In defense of Chief See and Hoppes. They cant hire Paramedics if they dont apply. There have been very few apply in the last several test cycles. Letters were sent to all Paramedics in MD, DEL,VA and PA. making them aware of job openings in Salisbury. Few applied and fewer were qualified. DC Hoppes took a bold and proactive step to get more Paramedics. You cant fault the man or Chief See for trying.
Joe,
Titling a post "Letter to the Editor" may be intended to give the writer more credibility, but at least the local newspaper that you take so much pleasure in criticizing requires published letters to be signed. I guess "Post by Malcontent" just doesn't have the same ring to it. Personally, I utilize the anonymity of your site as protection from the vicious attacks so readily launched on those who disagree with your message, so thanks for that. On the other hand, if you required all posters to sign in, you wouldn't have a very busy site, so I understand why you keep it that way.
No Salisbury does not weed out the bad apples; "its all in who you know" Salisbury refuses to pay comparable pay but yet runs over 8,000 calls a year burning out the few medics they have . They are the only city agency that I know that does not pay 1.5 pay for overtime (hours beyond regular shift). That is the reason most of the paramedics will not work no more than their regular shift.
all you a.h. can do nothing but bitch about all the ills of the Salisbury fire dept. and what you know about paramedics you can write on the back of a bottle cap. Ron Lewis is boring, but he is a very skilled paramedic.im a Salisbury paramedic a very proud of it and i don't do it just for a paycheck.Some of us are better than others just like in whatever job you do.Why don't you just mind your own business, and let us worry about us. So lets hear your normal response and talk about someones grammar or spelling or anything to take the spotlight off the fact you don't know what the hell your talking about.
Anonymous said...
Paramedics should ride the ambulance period. Promotion was some of Brezlers crap that is still going on. They dont like riding the ambulance any more than the EMT's. They bitch and moan about every call. Most of the ones I know are terrible firemen and are scared of fire. Paramedics are overrated and arrogant people who only get the card for the paycheck. Do you want me to name a few of your paramedic firefighting gods ?
2:39 PM
No, but it might be a good idea to name yourself since you think you are all that. My guess is that you are nothing but a loser and you should be lucky you have a job.
PFC 7724 said...
Your the first person I have ever heard that questioned the quality of the MSP Medics. Ron Lewis is a very good Paramedic and teaches at Wor Wic. Many of the MSP flight medics are volunteers at other departments and former military medics with battleground experience. If the MSP program is so bad, then why do so many of you apply to their ranks ? Many local Paramedics have done so within the past year. The MSP is a steller organization and you have to be good to get in. Keep that in mind when you apply.
2:52 PM
You obvioulsy don't know Mr. Lewis. Everyone in the field that has experienced him knows he is not a good instructor or a good paramedic. If he is so great where does he get his experience from.
I loved the comment about him being an instructor at Wor Wic. I almost choked on my dinner laughing at that comment. Wor Wic. What kind of credentials do you need to "teach" for that place. Teaching at Wor Wic is certainly nothing to brag about.
Who are the many people that have applied to be a Trooper Medic on the helicopter? Who are they? Very few if any.
2:52 What fast food establishment do you work for? keep the fries coming.. idiot
Anonymous said...
Paramedics should ride the ambulance period. Promotion was some of Brezlers crap that is still going on. They dont like riding the ambulance any more than the EMT's. They bitch and moan about every call. Most of the ones I know are terrible firemen and are scared of fire. Paramedics are overrated and arrogant people who only get the card for the paycheck. Do you want me to name a few of your paramedic firefighting gods ?
2:39 PM
DUDE! Don't hate paramedics because you are to stupid to become one. I heard you failed basic EMT. I saw you riding the short bus today.
ROTFLMAO
Anonymous said...
In defense of Chief See and Hoppes. They cant hire Paramedics if they dont apply. There have been very few apply in the last several test cycles. Letters were sent to all Paramedics in MD, DEL,VA and PA. making them aware of job openings in Salisbury. Few applied and fewer were qualified. DC Hoppes took a bold and proactive step to get more Paramedics. You cant fault the man or Chief See for trying.
3:04 PM
In defense of See and Hoppes. They may not be able to hire them if they don't apply??? You are right they can't hire them if they don't apply but they shouldn't be hiring a basic EMT in their place. They were told to hire paramedics, but they did something else. They BOTH should be held accountable for wasting tax dollars on positions that weren't authorized.
Another thing that comes to mind is why do the paramedics have to be firefighter paramedics? There are numerous paramedics that would rather ride the ambulance and not the fire trucks. Why do they also have to be firefighter? This is just wrong.
Anonymous said...
Paramedics should ride the ambulance period. Promotion was some of Brezlers crap that is still going on. They dont like riding the ambulance any more than the EMT's. They bitch and moan about every call. Most of the ones I know are terrible firemen and are scared of fire. Paramedics are overrated and arrogant people who only get the card for the paycheck. Do you want me to name a few of your paramedic firefighting gods ?
2:39 PM
Scared of fire? What fire? There are no fires in Salisbury. If there were fires in Salisbury then the fire trucks wouldn't be chasing the ambulances around all day. If you weren't such a punk you would sign your name. You are afraid the paramedics will run circles around you. Hey moron, a MONKEY can put a fire out, but you are to illiterate to become a paramedic. Don't hate them because you can't be one of them.
sounds like the boy that didnt get a job offer has his panties in a knot.
Just to let you guys know, Salisbury made each applicant take an agility test and a written test. Out of the 25 that passed, ONLY ***2*** were paramedics!! (That is not a lot to work with fellas) Besides the paramedic who was hired, the next 3 in line are all in Intermediate school. They did the best with what they had to work with.
Anonymous said...
sounds like the boy that didnt get a job offer has his panties in a knot.
10:50 PM
Maybe he should be upset. Why didn't he get the job offer?
They hired an EMT over a Paramedic? That is malfeasance in an appointed position. Like the original writer put it See and Hoppes need to go.
Anonymous said...
Just to let you guys know, Salisbury made each applicant take an agility test and a written test. Out of the 25 that passed, ONLY ***2*** were paramedics!! (That is not a lot to work with fellas) Besides the paramedic who was hired, the next 3 in line are all in Intermediate school. They did the best with what they had to work with.
12:09 AM
Wrong answer. Why is there a need for the Salisbury Fire Department to to do an agility test for paramedics they were authorized an told to hire? Why is there a need to do a written test? The applicants have already met the requirements and certifications. This isn't a big time metropolitan fire department hiring non experienced paramedics off the street. Do you think the current employees can pass an agility test? The answer is NO! Do you think See, Hoppes and Gordy can pass an agility test? NO!!
I remember when a certain person took a pretest to get into an Intermediate level EMT-I class. When the person was done he was bragging to everyone that anyone that failed that test should be decertified as an EMT. Guess what? He failed that basic test. This same person eventually got into the class and held the certification for a couple of years. He then was required to take the bridge class class to the National Registry level and failed that test twice. He eventually dropped that certification. All of this time and effort was done at the tax payers expense. He is now the paid Deputy Fire Chief of the Salisbury Fire Department and he continues to waste tax dollars and make irrational hiring decisions.
Anonymous said...
That is not a lot to work with fellas) ... They did the best with what they had to work with.
12:09 AM
That is just to funny. How ironic for you to make that stupid comment. The leadership in the SFD isn't much to work with.
Hey although I am an outsider I have a great idea. Why not make it mandatory for all the paid firefighter/EMT's take an EMT-Intermediate class or a Paramedic class? That would take a while, but then everyone would be Advanced Life Support providers. I wonder why the administration hasn't thought of that yet? Great stuff!
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